Gianforte Measure to Curb Surprise Medical Bills Moves Forward

Press Release

The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently cleared bipartisan legislation to curb surprise medical bills, including a measure from Congressman Greg Gianforte to protect rural communities.

"Too many Montanans are getting their mail and finding an unexpected and outrageous bill for health care. Just last month, a woman in Ekalaka reached out to me," Gianforte said. "She was surprised to receive a $70,000 bill from a small Montana hospital. She had no idea how to handle the situation or get it resolved. This has to stop."

"We need to ensure that all patients, who are trying in good faith to work through our convoluted system to receive care and pay their bills, are not victimized when providers and insurers cannot agree. At the same time, we need to ensure we aren't harming rural providers in the process," Gianforte said.

Gianforte's amendment to the No Surprises Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider rural communities, including the nature of the area and the supply of doctors, when determining the benchmark rate for compensation. The benchmark rate sets the payment amount for out-of-network doctors. The committee unanimously adopted Gianforte's amendment as well as the No Surprises Act, H.R. 3630.

The No Surprises Act prohibits surprise medical billing and holds patients harmless in emergency situations. The bill increases transparency and empowers patients by establishing a market-based benchmark rate with an independent dispute resolution backstop to resolve out-of-network payment disputes between providers and insurers.

Following passage in the committee, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider the legislation.

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